The Moon that moves the tides also reaches the water inside our bodies;

working and living in harmony with the Moon and the Lunar cycles

connects us directly with magnetic and other energetic pulses as they flow through the year and the world around us.

Waxing & Waning Moon

One aspect of the lunar cycle, known as Waxing and Waning concerns the cycle from new to full moon dividing the month in half. The expanding/increasing and reducing/decreasing "halves"of the lunar cycle are a gentle swing from one to the other, the outbreath and inbreath of the Earth, reaching their peak midway between each fortnight. Mark your progress from the New Moon, measure it at the Full.

The Waxing moon begins from the Dark or New Moon and slowly increases until the Full Moon from where it gently decreases or Wanes to the Dark moon once again. The Waxing Moon is a good time to begin important projects; to lay the foundations of a plan or relationship; to concentrate on action. This time of expansion is also when one is more likely to gain weight. Things thicken so this is a good time to mow the lawn or your hair .

The Waning moon give us the opportunity to reflect and relax and let go. It is a time to shed emotional baggage and to lose weight. A great time to plan weekends or days for relxing, it is also a more effective time for cleaning and sorting out stuff. It is a good time for routine activities. Use this fortnight to assess and consolidate.

Fire, Water, Air & Earth "Days":

Each sign stays for two or three days during a month. This gives a particular day quality; emphasises a particular food type; plant part and energy to the days and nights as well as affecting particular body parts.

If we know in advance which energies are characteristic of a particular date we can be more prepared, plan more effectively and enjoy being in tune with our environment.

When the moon is in the Fire signs of Aries, Leo & Sagittarius the days and nights will have a warm dry quality. Fruit and Protein foodstuffs are emphasised. Initally simply observe how this affects you - do you feel like more comfortable including larger amounts or less protein in your diet at these times? Similarly with fruit.

As the time passes through Aries, it is the head, eyes and nose which are highlighted so this is an especially good time to boost hydration levels and drink more water. Why not enjoy the warm dry quality of the earth to lie and watch the clouds overhead. With Leo is it the heart and the back coming into focus and with Sagittarius it is the thighs and veins which are highlighted.

When the moon is in the Water signs of Cancer, Scorpio & Pisces, the days will have watery damp quality with the Leaf and Carbohydrates being emphasised. See for yourself how watering plants or seedlings with the same volume of water as on other days will last longer during these times.Under Cancer it is the chest, stomach, liver, gall-bladder. The moon in Scorpio highlights the sex organs and the ureter. With Pisces it is the feet and toes which are affected so a great time to pay some loving attention to your toenails.

When the moon is in the Air signs Gemini, Libra & Aquarius the day quality has a light, airy, dreamy quality with Flowers and Fat being the main food emphasised. Under Gemini it is the shoulders, arms, hands and lungs which are highlighted. With Libra it is the bladder, kidneys and hips most affected and Aquarius it is the veins and lower legs.

When the moon is the Earth signs Taurus ,Virgo & Capricorn the days have a cool earthy quality with Roots and Salt being emphasised. Observe how your body reacts during this energy, it may be that food tastes more salty so you need less, or the other way around and you find yourself searching out saltier food that at other times. Balance is the key, and there are many opportunities within each month to spread the harmony. Under Capricorn it is the knees, bones, joints and skin - why not try swimming instead of jogging around these days. With Taurus the larynx, speech organs, teeth, jaws, throat and ears are all linked so a good time to wear a scarf. In Virgo it is the digestive organs, nerves and spleen which are highlighted.

This is a just a tiny glimpse of some of the ways in which the lunar energies can subtly affect our moods and our choices. This brief summary is part of a series on the practical aspects of lunar living. There are many lunar calendars and journals now available and some very helpful lunar websites.

Moonsurfing.com is a handy and helpful lunar guidance tool beamed straight to your screen. Their goal "to marry cold, astronomical data (date and times of moon phases), with a heart-based, astrological interpretation of how these particular energies affect our everyday life. We strive to spark imagination and stir your own intuition and feeling of wonder occasioned by the waxing and waning energies of the lunar phases." It is a site and a service packed with lunar information and useful in furthering one's own re-connection to lunar living.

For a Stunning Lunar Calendar displaying the lunar phases and astrological phenomena to steer you around the year, Tina Smales Callanish poster is just perfect.